Oakland Raiders: Four Thoughts On Relocation To Las Vegas

The Free Agency Effect

Among the positives of the team relocating to Las Vegas, the biggest “pro” of everything might be the fact that the Raiders will now become a serious threat to any potential free agents.

Just like the teams in Florida, every time a free agent is deciding between one of those teams and another team in a different state, everyone and their Mothers are quick to point out that Florida doesn’t have an income tax, and therefore, that free agent is going to choose to sign with the Florida team.

Well, now the Raiders will be afforded that same luxury. And especially in comparison to California, players on the Raiders will save roughly $130,000 for every million they earn. That’s a lot of cash.

McKenzie has splurged once in free agency, but generally, he’s known as a bargain shopper. So it’ll be interesting to see how the move will affect his free agency strategy. He’ll be able to spend a little more if he’d like to, in order to take an offer over the top compared to another team, or, he’ll be able to offer a bargain deal knowing that the player he is targeting will still have more take home money due to no income tax.

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And if Bruce Irvin happens to still be around, if you think his recruiting efforts are impressive now, Baby Reggie is really going to take it up another notch in Vegas. If not as a player, maybe as an big Reggie’s assistant.